4 cops face kidnap, extortion raps

MANILA, Philippines–Four former San Juan policemen are facing charges after a man accused of arresting him on trumped-up charges and demanding money for his release from his live-in partner last year.

Charges of kidnapping and extortion have been recommended by the city prosecutor’s office against PO1 Hadji A. Zaulda, SPO2 Joel Macabasag, SPO3 Rodel A. Tuaño and SPO2 Ronald Rioja based on the complaint filed by Vincent Ravara and Janifer Yuag.

According to Ravara, he and a friend were standing at the gate of their house on A. Bonifacio Street in Barangay (village) Kabayanan in San Juan City on Dec. 30 last year when they were approached by four policemen dressed in civilian clothes.

Zaulda and Rioja then grabbed him, told him that they knew him and warned him against resisting arrest.

Zaulda, Macabasag and Rioja then took him inside his house and told Yuag to pack some clothes for him. As she did so, the policemen ransacked their house and took the couple’s valuables amounting to P46,300.

The policemen then left, taking Ravara with them. He later contacted Yuag and told her that the policemen wanted P200,000 in exchange for his release.

Yuag, however, managed to come up with only P40,000 which she gave to the policemen during a meet-up on R. Pascual Street. Ravara was later released at Aquinas Church.

The indictment of the four policemen was recommended by Deputy City Prosecutor Ireneo M. Quintano and approved by City Prosecutor Tomas T. Ricalde Jr.

At that time, Macabasag, Tuaño and Rioja were assigned at the anti-illegal drugs unit, according to Senior Supt. Joselito Daniel, San Juan chief of police.

All three have since been relieved and are assigned at the Eastern Police District pending the issuance of warrants of arrest against them, Daniel said.

Zaulda, on the other hand, had already been relieved at the time of the incident in connection with another unspecified complaint filed against him, resulting in the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.